Chronicles of the Reincarnated Demon God

Chapter 8: Summoning Decree  (召集令)

At the Cheongpung Inn, not far from the Nine Dragon Branch.

“How is it possible that this keeps happening? It’s not just once or twice, it’s every single time!”

“Just see it as another one of life’s lessons. ” I patted Tang Gon’s shoulder while sipping my drink.

Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve had a drink, but this bamboo leaf liquor tastes exceptionally good.

As for the result of our last bet, I ended up winning, of course.

It would have been a different story if I was required to grasp every subtle detail, as with the Traceless Shadow Step, but simply mimicking the form presented little challenge.

Given that my fully opened Upper Dantian allows me to recall the entirety of the Demonic Sky Repository, remembering that should be no problem at all.

From the start, this was a bet Tang Gon could never win, though he remained blissfully unaware. Hehehe!

「It seems this young man’s life has taken a turn for the worse after getting involved with the Young Lord, much like ours.」

「Indeed. It’s a reminder that one should be cautious about where they place their trust. A pity, really.」

I overheard the idle chatter of the dead souls, seemingly feeling a sense of shared misfortune. However, the delightful taste of the liquor prompted me to forgive their intrusion.

Besides, the fresh air outside truly lifted my spirits.

It would be even better if I could just run away like this.

When I left the manor, there was a bit of a scuffle as the warriors from Namgung Sanyeong’s side blocked my way, but it wasn’t difficult to brush them off.

‘I’m taking the Young Master out under the authority as his martial instructor. Is there a problem?”

Namgung Sanyeong was the one who appointed Tang Gon as my martial arts instructor, so what could they do?

It wouldn’t take long for Namgung Sanyoung to realize something strange was afoot.

But by then, it’d be too late.

“Young Master, since you were able to leave the manor thanks to me, shouldn’t you at least pay for this drink.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then at least give me back the money!”

“Nah. I won it fair and square. Why should I give it back?”

“I’m broke!”

I put on a pitying expression.

“Then you should have won.”

“Aaaargh!”

Tang Gon jumped up from his seat and pointed his finger at me.

“Didn’t you say it wasn’t about the money?!”

“And I never said I wasn’t going to take it.”

“Eeek! You said you wanted to earn my respect!”

“I did. And that’s the end of it.”

“Aaaargh!”

This is hopeless! This was getting nowhere!

Tang Gon clutched at his temples in frustration.

“Then, at least stop ordering food! You look like you’re about to order everything on the menu!”

As if to emphasize his point, servers bustled around us, continuously delivering dishes. Our table alone couldn’t accommodate the sheer volume of food, necessitating the addition of three or four more. Delighted by this unexpected windfall, the innkeeper’s smile never left his face.

“Hey, a man’s gotta eat. This is the first proper meal I’ve had in two months, you know?”

“And I told you, I’m broke! You took it all…”

“Oh… My bad?”

“Aaaargh!”

Now, he was practically jumping up and down in his seat.

He seemed overjoyed to be drinking with me.

My subordinates when I was the Young Lord always had this kind of reaction when drinking with me. I guess I really am quite popular.

Such are the woes of a man burdened by excessive charm.

“Innkeeper! Bring all the bamboo leaf liquor you have left!”

“Wow. You’re broke, and you’re still going all out?”

“That’s none of your business! I’ll manage on my own! How else am I supposed to endure this sober?! You should be grateful I’m not punching you right now!”

“Oh… thanks for that, I guess.”

“Innkeeper! Innkeeper! The liquor, now!”

Tang Gon, saying he’d only get angrier if he kept talking to me, started drinking a whole jar of alcohol.

He was chugging. Turns out our buddy Tang Gon is quite the drinker.

I chuckled and took another sip of alcohol.

The tingling sensation in my throat felt so good.

Meanwhile, my left hand secretly drew a small symbol under the table.

A symbol of two swords piercing a skull (表式).

「Lesser Heavenly Demon, that is…!」

The spirits who recognized the symbol trembled.

It was a summoning decree (召喚令).

A decree to summon the cult members living within Jiulong County.

The skull signified an urgent order, while the number of swords denoted the rank of the issuer: one for an Elder, two for the Lesser Heavenly Demon, and three for the Heavenly Demon himself.

In other words, I had issued a summons with the authority of the Lesser Heavenly Demon.

By now, ‘Yeon Un-hwi’ would likely be known to have gone missing or died along with my Master, so things would be in chaos.

I had imbued the summons with sorcery, restricting its visibility to prevent any traps laid by the Nine Great Demon Sects or the Seventy-Two Evil Gates who might be affiliated with the Society or seeking to capitalize on the situation.

Only the followers of the Order of the Demonic Divine Flame could see this mark.

My master and I belonged to the Order of the Demonic Divine Flame, a prestigious lineage that had produced more Cult Leaders than any other throughout history. Its roots trace back to the Western Regions, where it was known as Zoroastrianism.

They were the only ones I could trust implicitly at this moment.

What if the Society’s hand had reached even there?

If the Order had been compromised, then finding my master and restoring the Divine Cult would become an exceedingly distant prospect.

That’s how crucial the Order of the Demonic Divine Flame was to the Divine Cult, and I had faith and confidence that they wouldn’t change their loyalty no matter what happened.

After specifying the location for the assembly, I could finally relax and focus on my drink.

“Next time… I’ll beat you… I will…”

Tang Gon, who had already emptied jars of alcohol, planted his face on the table, drooling.

Oh?

「Young Lord, this ungrateful bastard is trying to avoid paying for the alcohol! Just give me the order, and I’ll throw him in the pit right away!」

「The toilet might be inconvenient when you go home, so I’ll get some ice water to splash on him! Leave it to me!!」

The wraiths, sensing a chance to prove their loyalty, engaged in a ridiculous display of one-upmanship.

“That’s not going to make me go easy on you.”

“……”

“Are you asleep?”

“Snore……”

“I guess he’s really asleep.”

I let out a chuckle and raised my hand to call a server.

“Did you call, sir? What else would you like?”

Clearly, I called for a waiter, but it was the innkeeper who came.

Perhaps due to the presence of a high-spending customer after so long, he was remarkably attentive.

“The inn seems quite full. How many guests do you have?”

“Pardon? Well, we’d have to count to know exactly, but since our inn boasts the largest size in Jiulong County, I’d say we have around three hundred guests.”

He answered politely without being flustered at all by the strange question.

“Then if we ring the golden bell for those people, they would be very happy-”

“Hahaha! I dozed off for a moment and now I’m completely refreshed. Young Master, let’s share another drink. I think we can have a deep conversation!”

“??”

The innkeeper stared blankly at Tang Gon, who had abruptly woken up. He seemed quite taken aback.

“Five-spice meat. That was my favorite. Please add one more. Prioritize it over the other dishes.”

“Oh my! No problem at all! I’ll bring it right away!”

Indeed, there’s nothing as enjoyable as throwing money, more so when it isn’t yours.

After sending the innkeeper away, I saw Tang Gon sitting down with a sullen face.

“The world is a scary place, isn’t it? The moment you let your guard down, someone tries to take advantage of you.”

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8화
소집령(召集令)
구룡분가에서 얼마 떨어지지 않은 청풍객잔.
“어떻게 대체 한두 번도 아니고 매번 이럴 수가 있단 말입니까!”
“이게 다 인생의 좋은 경험이다 생각하고 열심히 해야지, 방법이 없다고. 방법이.”
나는 술을 한 잔 마시면서 당곤의 어깨를 두들겨 주었다.
오랜만에 마셔서 그런가, 죽엽청 술맛이 아주 좋구만? 여보시오, 주인장! 여기 한 병 더!
마지막 내기의 결과부터 말하자면 결국 내가 이겼다.
암영보 때처럼 묘리까지 다 파악하라고 하면 불가능했겠지만, 형(形)만 익히는 거라면 사실 그리 어렵지 않았으니.
상단전이 활짝 열려서 천마서고도 전부 머릿속에 담을 만큼 기억력이 좋은 내가 그것 하나 전부 담아내지 못하려고?
결국 이건 당곤이 처음부터 절대 이길 수가 없는 내기였다.
본인은 꿈에도 모르고 있겠지만. 음홧홧홧!
「소교주와 얽혀서 인생을 망친 꼴이 저희와 똑같은 듯하군요.」
「그러게 말이오. 그러니 사람이 발 뻗을 자리도 잘 골라보고 뻗어야 하는 것인데. 에잉. 쯧쯧.」
동병상련을 느낀 듯한 망령들의 헛소리가 들렸지만, 술맛이 좋으니 용서해주기로 마음먹었다.
그나저나 바깥바람 쐬니까 진짜 기분이 좋네.
이대로 튈 수만 있으면 더 좋을 텐데 말이야.
장원을 나올 때 남궁산영 쪽의 무사들이 내 앞을 가로막아서 가벼운 실랑이가 벌어지긴 했지만, 그걸 뿌리치는 건 어렵지 않았다.
‘수련을 위해 이공자를 무사부의 자격으로 데리고 나가는 것이다만. 무슨 문제라도 있나?’
당곤을 내 무사부로 임명한 게 남궁산영인데 지들이 뭐 어쩌려고?
남궁산영도 곧 뭔가 일이 이상하게 돌아가기 시작한다는 걸 눈치 챌 것이다.
그땐 이미 늦었겠지만.
“저 덕분에 장원에서 나오시게 된 건데 이 술은 이공자께서 좀 사시죠?”
“싫은데.”
“그럼 돈이라도 돌려주던가!”
“에이. 내가 정식으로 다 따낸 건데. 왜 돌려줘?”
“나 빈털터리라고!”
나는 딱하다는 표정을 지었다.
“그러게 이기지 그랬어?”
“아아아악!”
당곤은 벌떡 자리에서 일어나며 내게 삿대질을 해댔다.
“언제는 돈 따려고 내기한 게 아니라고 하지 않았습니까!”
“딸 생각이 없다고도 안 했지.”
“이이이익! 제 인정을 받고 싶으셨다면서요!”
“받았지. 그리고 끝.”
“아아아아악!”
말이 안 통해! 말이 안 통한다고! 당곤은 관자놀이를 쥐어뜯었다.
“그럼 음식이라도 좀 그만시키던가! 차림표에 있는 걸 다 주문하게 생겼잖습니까!”
참고로 조금 전부터 점소이들이 쉬지 않고 음식을 나르는 중이었다.
우리 두 사람이 앉은 탁자로는 음식을 전부 채울 수 없어서 다른 탁자 서너 개를 더 이어 붙인 상태였다.
덕분에 객잔 주인은 오랜만에 맞은 횡재에 올라간 입꼬리가 떨어질 줄을 모르더라.
“오랜만에 뱃속에 기름칠 좀 하려구. 나 두 달 만에 제대로 먹는 음식이라니까?”
“저 돈 없단 말입니다! 이공자가 다 털어가서…!”
“오… 그건 좀 미안?”
“아아아아아아악!”
이제는 아예 제자리에서 방방 날뛰기까지 한다.
나랑 술 마시는 게 이렇게 좋아 죽나 보다.
소교주전의 수하들도 항상 대작을 할 때면 저런 반응이었는데 내가 참 인기가 많긴 많은 모양이었다. 이래서 죄 많은 남자들이란.
“주인장! 죽엽청! 죽엽청 남은 거 있으면 싹 다 가져오시오!”
“와우. 돈 없다면서. 그렇게 무리해서 되겠어?”
“이공자가 신경 쓸 바가 아니니 내가 알아서 하겠습니다! 술이라도 안 마시면 제가 맨정신으로 이걸 버티기나 하겠습니까! 이공자를 한 대 쥐어박지 않는 것만 해도 다행이라고 생각하십시오!”
“오… 그건 좀 고맙.”
“주인장! 주인장! 술 가져오라니까, 술!”
당곤은 더 이상 나와 말을 섞으면 울화통만 터진다면서 술을 한 동이 채 들고 마시기 시작했다.
술이 들어간다. 쭉쭉쭉…. 몰랐는데 우리 당곤 대원, 술고래셨구나?
나는 낄낄거리면서 술을 한 잔 더 넘겼다.
알싸한 느낌이 목젖을 간지럽히는 게 너무 기분 좋았다.
그러면서 왼손으로는 몰래 탁상 밑에다 아주 작은 그림을 하나 그렸다.
칼 두 자루가 해골의 머리에 꽂힌 표식(表式).
「소교주시여, 그건…!」
표식을 알아본 망령들이 몸을 바들바들 떨었다.
소환령(召喚令)이었다.
구룡현을 포함해 이 주변 일대에서 살아가는 교도들에게 소집을 알리는 명령서.
해골은 긴급 명령을 의미하고, 칼의 숫자는 신분을 의미했다.
하나는 장로급, 둘은 소교주, 셋은 교주.
즉, 나는 소교주의 권한으로 소집을 알린 것이다.
아마 지금쯤 ‘연운휘’는 사부님과 함께 실종되었거나, 죽은 것으로 알려졌을 테니 한바탕 뒤집히겠지.
회와 연루되어 있거나, 이참에 독립을 생각하고 있는 구대마종이 함정을 팔 수 있으므로 사술을 걸어 소집에 제한을 걸었다.
오로지 앙마신화종(仰魔神火宗)의 신도들만 이 표식을 볼 수 있도록.
앙마신화종은 나와 사부님이 소속된 종파로, 대대로 신교에서 교주들을 가장 많이 배출한 유서 깊은 곳이었다. 전신(前身)은 서역에서 넘어온 배화교.
내가 당장 가장 신뢰할 수 있는 유일한 곳이었다.
만약 여기까지 회의 손길이 닿아있다면?
그땐 정말 사부님을 찾고 신교를 복원하는 일이 아주 요원해진다.
그만큼 앙마신화종은 신교의 핵심이었고, 무슨 일이 닥쳐도 변심하지 않았을 거란 믿음과 확신이 있었다.
소집이 어디서 이뤄질 건지 장소까지 남긴 뒤, 나는 그제야 마음 놓고 술잔에 집중할 수 있었다.
“다음엔… 내가 털어버릴 거야…… 내가……. 흠냐흠냐.”
그새 술독을 다섯 독이나 비운 당곤이 침을 질질 흘리며 탁상에다 머리를 처박았다.
얼씨구?
「이 배은망덕한 작자가 술값을 내지 않으려 잔수를 부리려 하고 있습니다, 소교주! 제게 명령만 내려주시면 당장 똥통에다 처박아두고 오겠습니다!」
「변소는 집에 돌아가실 때 거북하실 수 있으니, 제가 얼음물을 구해와 끼얹도록 하겠습니다! 제게 맡겨 주십시오!!」
망령들이 별 필요도 없는 충성 경쟁을 벌일 정도로 빤히 보이는 수작.
“그런다고 봐주는 거 없어.”
“…….”
“자나?”
“쿨…….”
“진짜 자나 보네.”
나는 헛웃음을 흘리면서 손을 들어 점소이를 불렀다.
“부르셨습니까요, 손님? 이번에는 무엇을 드릴깝쇼?”
분명히 부른 건 점소이인데 찾아온 건 객잔 주인이었다.
오랜만에 찾은 대형 물주라 그런가 참으로 자세가 빠릿빠릿했다.
“지금 객잔이 꽉 찬 거 같은데. 손님이 몇 분이나 계시오?”
“예? 그야 정확한 건 저희도 세어봐야 알겠습니다만, 저희 객잔이 구룡현에서도 가장 넓은 크기를 자랑하니 대략 삼백여 분이 계시지 않을까 싶습니다만.”
별 희한한 질문에도 전혀 당황하지 않고 공손하게 대답했다.
“그럼 그분들에게 황금종 울리면 아주 좋아할-”
“으하하하! 잠깐 졸고 났더니 술이 다 확 깨는군. 이공자, 다시 술잔을 나눕시다. 깊은 이야기를 나눌 수 있을 것 같소!”
“??”
객잔 주인은 자다 말고 갑자기 헐레벌떡 일어난 당곤을 멍한 얼굴로 쳐다봤다. 많이 놀란 모양이었다.
“오향과육. 이게 제일 마음에 들던데. 하나 더 추가 부탁드리오. 혹시 다른 것들보다 좀 더 빨리 나올 수 있겠소?”
“어이쿠! 문제없고 말굽쇼! 당장 대령하겠나이다!”
역시 금융치료만큼 아주 즐거운 것도 없단 말이지.
객잔 주인을 보내고 나니 뚱한 얼굴로 앉는 당곤이 보였다.
“세상이 참 무서워 그렇지? 잠깐 눈만 돌리면 코 베어 가려 하니.”
“정말 이러기요?”
“응. 이럴 건데.”
“…하! 제기랄. 잘못 걸려도 단단히 잘못 걸려들었군.”
당곤은 울컥한 마음을 달랠 길이 없어 다시 죽엽청을 들이켜야만 했다.
피식!
나는 가볍게 웃으면서 술병을 빼앗았다.
비서장(飛絮掌)의 금나수.
당연히 오늘 당곤에게 배운 수법이었다.
“에이. 자작하면 무슨 맛으로 먹어? 같이 나눠 먹어야지.”
또르르.
당곤은 빈 술잔을 빠르게 채우는 죽엽청을 가만히 노려봤다. 정확하게는 내 손을.
“…이젠 응용도 하십니까?”
“적련신장의 회타백산에서 백편타단으로 이어지는 기의 흐름을 꼬니까 추혼수의 갈기춘으로 이어지더라고? 거기서 착안했지. 다 연결이 되던데?”
손동작까지 적절하게 섞어서 보여주니 아주 표정이 볼만해진다.
“…당가의 무학은 따로 보면 전부 각각 분절된 듯하나, 사실은 전부 기계를 이루는 부품처럼 수십, 수백 개의 조합이 가능하지요. 워낙에 다루는 무기들이 다양하기 때문에 생긴 결과입니다.”
“광풍무는 그 조합을 훨씬 더 빠르고 폭발적으로 강화하는 윤활제 같은 거고? 덕분에 이런 흐름이 더 잘 보였어.”
아마 중원의 여러 방파 중에서 사천당가만큼 많은 도구를 사용하는 곳도 없을 것이다.
암기는 한 번 던지고 나면 소모되지 않나. 그러다 보니 자연스레 동작이 크고, 소모된 암기를 보충하느라 동작과 동작 사이에 간극이 생기고 만다.
생사가 왔다 갔다 하는 전장에서 이런 간극은 아주 치명적이다.
그래서 사천당가는 이걸 만회하기 위해 많은 연구를 해왔다.
절기의 부품화가 바로 그 결과 중 하나였다.
사천당가의 무학은 전부 초식이 짧다. 그리고 상황에 따라 다른 무학의 초식과 언제나 연환이 가능했다.
암기와 독술 말고 기관진식에도 일가견이 있는 만큼, 무학도 기관처럼 접근한 것이다.
덕분에 당가의 무학은 다양한 조합이 가능하고, 만약 치명적인 결함이 있으면 언제든 교체할 수 있었다.
교체된 초식은 차후에 개량하거나, 폐기되기도 한다.
광풍무는 이 모든 조합의 최종형태였다.
더 빠르고, 더 강렬하게.
일격필살(一擊必殺).
짧은 순간에 시전자의 모든 역량을 쏟아 부어 승부를 종결시킨다.
만약 실패한다면?
어떡하긴. 그냥 멍청하게 서 있다가 당하기 십상이지.
이건 치명적인 단점이었다.
하지만 그만큼 일격필살의 위력이 너무 강하기에 문제라는 걸 알면서도 치명적인 단점이라고 생각하지는 않는 것 같았다.
하지만 내게는 괜찮은 구석으로 보였다.
그 단점을 나라면 어떻게든 채울 수 있을 것 같았으므로.
이걸 어떻게든 보완하는 방향으로 익힐 수 있다면 아주 괜찮을 것 같단 생각이 들었다.
그리고.
당가의 무학과 마찬가지로 전부 분절되어 있는 천마구검에 적용시키는 것도 가능할 것 같단 말이지?
광풍무도 광풍무지만, 이제 슬슬 천마구검에도 손을 대기 시작해야겠다 싶었다.
“대단하시군요. 벌써 거기까지 내다보시고.”
“가르쳐준 무사부가 워낙에 뛰어놔서.”
“그렇게 띄워주실 거면 술값이나 좀 어떻게 해주시죠?”
당곤은 툴툴대면서도 기분은 좋았던지 씰룩대는 입꼬리를 숨기지 못하고 술잔을 들이켰다.
또르르.
나는 다시 빈잔을 채워줬다.
“응. 안 돼. 지금이 아니면 천하의 맹풍기사를 언제 또 등처먹을 수 있겠어?”
“하여간 있는 사람들이 더 하다니까!”
짠.
이번에는 가볍게 잔을 부딪치며 같이 마셨다.
“대체 그런 안목은 어디서 기르신 겁니까?”
“교과서를 중심으로 예습과 복습을 적절하게 했지.”
“…숨기시겠다는 거군요. 분명히 우리가 모르는 스승이 있으실 것 같은데.”
나는 가만히 말없이 웃었다.
“제기랄! 알겠습니다, 알겠어. 안 떠보면 되잖습니까.”
“당 각원과 제대로 이야기를 나눈 건 분명 이번이 처음인데 앞으로 친해질 수 있겠단 생각이 자꾸 들어?”
“진짜 그럼 패가망신하거든요?”
“그땐 내 밑에 들어와. 술친구한테 침대 한 칸 못 내주려고?”
“허, 그것참! 천하의 맹풍기사가 이런 취급이나 받고. 어이쿠.”
사부님에 대해서 이야기를 나누기 시작하면 끝도 없을 것이다.
사흘 밤낮을 지새우더라도 할 수 있는 말이 많으므로.
그분의 생김새, 그분의 말투, 그분의 정겨움, 그분의 웃음, 그분의 버릇까지.
그림자만 짙게 깔린 뒷골목의 여느 잡초처럼 언제 짓밟혀도 이상하지 않을 내겐 너무나 눈부시고 화사하던 존재.
내가 배우고 닮고자 했던 모든 것들이 전부 그분에 있었다.
“그래도 한 가지만큼은 잘 알 것 같습니다.”
“뭘?”
“이공자에게 가르침을 주신 스승님 말입니다.”
어쭈? 이제는 떠보는 게 아니라 아예 확신하네?
뭐라고 하려나 궁금해서 가만히 쳐다봤다.
“아주 좋은 분이실 것 같습니다.”
순간, 숨이 턱 하고 막혔다.
“…그걸 어떻게 알아보지?”
“그야 이공자가 이렇게 웃으실 수 있으니까요?”
“…….”
수많은 감정의 조각이 머릿속에서 회오리쳤다.
그 뒤로도 당곤은 낄낄거리면서 계속 술잔을 기울였다.
나는 안주를 한 점 집어먹으면서 당곤의 말을 몇 번이나 곱씹었다.

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Chapter 8: The Summons

The Azure Breeze Inn stood not far from the Nine Dragons Branch.

“How can this happen every single time? It’s not even once or twice!”

“Just think of it as a valuable life experience and do your best. There’s no other way.”

I patted Tang Gon on the shoulder as I took a sip of my drink. Perhaps because it had been a while, the Bamboo Leaf Green liquor tasted exceptionally smooth. “Excuse me, Innkeeper! Another bottle over here!”

As for the outcome of our latest wager, I had emerged victorious, as always. While it would have been impossible for him to grasp the intricacies of the technique as he had with the Shadow Step, merely mimicking the form wasn’t particularly difficult. My Upper Dantian was wide open, granting me the memory capacity to store the entire contents of the Demonic Sky Repository. Could I possibly fail to replicate a single technique? From the start, this was a bet Tang Gon could never win, though he remained blissfully unaware. How amusing.

“He seems to have ruined his life by getting entangled with the Lesser Heavenly Demon, just like us.”

“Indeed. That’s why one must choose carefully where to set foot. Ah… Tsk, tsk.”

I overheard the idle chatter of the wraiths, seemingly feeling a sense of shared misfortune. However, the delightful taste of the liquor prompted me to forgive their intrusion. Besides, the fresh air outside truly lifted my spirits. It would be even better if I could just disappear like this. While leaving the manor, the warriors under Namgung Sanyeong’s command had attempted to block my path, leading to a minor scuffle. Brushing them off, however, proved to be effortless.

‘I am taking Young Master Yi with me as his martial instructor for training. Is there a problem?’

Namgung Sanyeong herself had appointed Tang Gon as my martial instructor; what did they think they could do? She would soon realize that things were amiss, though by then, it would be far too late.

“You got out of the manor thanks to me. Shouldn’t you be buying this drink, Young Master Yi?”

“No.”

“Then at least pay me back!”

“Why should I? I won it fair and square.”

“I’m broke!”

I feigned a sympathetic expression. “Then you should have won.”

“Aaaaagh!”

Tang Gon shot up from his seat, pointing a finger at me. “Didn’t you say it wasn’t about the money?!”

“I also didn’t say it wasn’t.”

“Y-You said you wanted my acknowledgement!”

“Received. And we’re done.”

“Aaaaagh!”

He was getting nowhere. Utterly nowhere! Tang Gon clutched his temples in frustration. “Then at least stop ordering so much food! You’re going to order everything on the menu!”

As if to emphasize his point, waiters bustled around us, continuously delivering dishes. Our table alone couldn’t accommodate the sheer volume of food, necessitating the addition of three or four more. The innkeeper, delighted by this unexpected windfall, wore a permanent grin.

“I’m just trying to enjoy a good meal for once. This is the first decent food I’ve had in two months.”

“I’m telling you, I have no money! You took it all…!”

“Oh… about that, I’m… slightly sorry?”

“Aaaaaaaaagh!”

Now he was practically jumping up and down in his seat. He seemed overjoyed to be drinking with me. The subordinates under the previous Lesser Heavenly Demon always reacted similarly when sharing drinks. I must be quite popular. Such are the woes of a man burdened by excessive charm.

“Innkeeper! Bamboo Leaf Green! Bring out every last bottle you have!”

“Wow. You said you were broke. Isn’t this a bit much?”

“It’s none of your concern! I’ll manage! I need this drink to endure this! Consider yourself lucky I’m not punching you right now!”

“Oh… well, thanks for that.”

“Innkeeper! Innkeeper! Bring the drinks, I said!”

Tang Gon, deciding that further conversation with me would only lead to apoplexy, grabbed a whole jug of liquor and began to gulp it down. Down it went. Glug, glug, glug… I hadn’t realized our Squad Leader Tang had such a capacity for drink.

Chuckling, I took another sip. The sharp, tingling sensation as it went down my throat was immensely satisfying. Meanwhile, under the table, my left hand surreptitiously drew a tiny picture: two swords plunged into a skull.

“Lesser Heavenly Demon, that’s…!”

The wraiths, recognizing the symbol, trembled. It was the Summons, a command to assemble all cult members living in and around Nine Dragons County. The skull signified an urgent order, while the number of swords denoted the rank of the issuer: one for an Elder, two for the Lesser Heavenly Demon, and three for the Heavenly Demon himself. I was issuing the summons under the authority of the Lesser Heavenly Demon. By now, ‘Yeon Un-hwi’ would likely be reported missing or dead along with my master, throwing everything into chaos. I had imbued the summons with sorcery, restricting its visibility to prevent any traps laid by the Nine Great Demon Sects or the Seventy-Two Evil Gates who might be affiliated with the Order of the Demonic Divine Flame or seeking to capitalize on the situation. Only the followers of the Order of the Demonic Divine Flame could see this mark.

The Order of the Demonic Divine Flame, the sect to which both my master and I belonged, had a long and distinguished history, having produced more Heavenly Demons than any other sect in the Divine Cult. Its predecessor was the Fire Worshiping Cult that had originated from the Western Regions. They were the only ones I could trust implicitly at this moment. If the Order had been compromised, then finding my master and restoring the Divine Cult would become an exceedingly distant prospect. The Order was the very core of the Divine Cult, and I had unwavering faith in their loyalty.

After specifying the location for the assembly, I could finally relax and focus on my drink.

“Next time… I’ll… clean you out… I will… Mmm…mmm…”

Tang Gon, having already emptied five jugs of liquor, slumped forward, his head landing on the table with a thud, drool trickling from his mouth. Oh, really now?

“That ungrateful wretch is feigning sleep to avoid paying! Lesser Heavenly Demon, just give the order, and I’ll throw him in the cesspool!”

“The latrine might be unpleasant on his way home. Allow me to fetch some ice water and douse him! Leave it to me!!”

The wraiths engaged in a pointless competition of loyalty, their ploy as transparent as glass.

“I won’t fall for that.”

“…”

“Is he asleep?”

“Zzz…”

“He’s actually asleep.”

I chuckled and beckoned to a waiter. “You called, sir? What can I get for you?”

Although I had called for a waiter, it was the innkeeper who appeared. Perhaps due to the presence of a high-spending customer after so long, he was remarkably attentive.

“The inn seems full. How many guests are there?”

“Well, we would have to count to be certain, but as our inn boasts the largest capacity in Nine Dragons County, I would estimate around three hundred guests.”

He answered politely, unfazed by my seemingly random question.

“Then those guests would be overjoyed if you rang the golden bell—”

“Hahaha! A short nap has cleared my head. Young Master Yi, let us resume our drinking! I believe we have much to discuss!”

“??”

The innkeeper stared blankly at Tang Gon, who had abruptly woken up. He seemed quite taken aback.

“The Five Spice Meat. I enjoyed that the most. Could I have another order? And perhaps it could be brought out a little faster than the other dishes?”

“Certainly! No problem at all! It will be brought to you right away!”

Ah, nothing quite as delightful as a bit of financial therapy. After dismissing the innkeeper, I observed Tang Gon settling back into his seat with a sullen expression.

“The world is a scary place, isn’t it? The moment you let your guard down, someone tries to take advantage of you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I am.”

“…Ha! Damn it. I’ve gotten myself into quite a mess.”

Tang Gon had to down more bamboo leaf liquor to calm his agitated heart.

Pfft!

I lightly laughed as I snatched away the liquor bottle.

The Golden Silk Palm of the Flying Catkin Palm technique.

Naturally, it was a technique I learned from Tang Gon today.

“Hey. What’s the fun of drinking alone? We should share.”

Tang Gon silently glared at the bamboo leaf liquor quickly filling his empty cup. More precisely, he was watching my hands.

“…You’re already improvising on it now?”

“When I intertwined the flow of Qi that goes from Turning White Mountain of the Red Lotus Divine Palm into the Hundred Cut Technique, it naturally transitioned to the Fluttering Spring of the Soul-Chasing  Hand, you know? That’s when it dawned on me: all the techniques were linked.”

His expression became quite entertaining when I demonstrated the correct hand movements.

“…The Tang Clan’s martial arts may appear fragmented when viewed individually, but in reality, they are all interconnected like components of a machine, capable of tens or even hundreds of combinations. This is a result of the wide variety of weapons we utilize.”

“And the Mad Wind Arts act as a lubricant, accelerating and amplifying those combinations? That’s why I could see the flow so clearly.”

There’s probably no other faction in the Central Plains as versatile as the Tang Clan when it comes to weapons.

Throwing weapons are typically consumed after a single use. Consequently, their movements tended to be broad, and the need to replenish spent weapons created gaps between movements. In the life-or-death realm of combat, such gaps could be fatal.

That’s why the Sichuan Tang Clan has conducted extensive research to compensate for this.

The modularization of their techniques was one of those results.

Their martial arts were characterized by short, concise movements, seamlessly chaining into other techniques as the situation demanded.

Just as they were masters of hidden weapons, poisons, and mechanical formations, they approached martial arts with the same meticulous engineering mindset. This allowed for diverse combinations and the flexibility to replace any flawed component.

The replaced techniques were then refined or discarded.

The Mad Wind Dance was the final form of all these combinations.

Faster and more intense.

One strike, certain kill (一擊必殺).

In a brief moment, it pours out all the user’s capabilities to end the battle.

And if that single strike failed?

Well, you would be left standing foolishly, vulnerable to a counterattack.

This was a fatal weakness.

However, the sheer power of that decisive blow was so overwhelming that they seemed to disregard this vulnerability.

But to me, it held potential.

Because I felt I could find a way to compensate for this flaw.

If I could master this style while addressing its flaws, it would be an invaluable asset.

Furthermore, could I apply this principle to the fragmented Nine Swords of the Heavenly Demon? While the Mad Wind Arts were intriguing, it was time to start focusing on my Master’s sword techniques.

“You’re amazing. To already be seeing that far ahead.”

“It’s thanks to having an extraordinary teacher like you.”

“If you’re going to flatter me like that, why don’t you cover the bill?”

Despite his grumbling, Tang Gon seemed pleased, unable to hide the twitching of his lips as he drained his cup.

Clink.

I filled his empty cup again.

“Nope. It’s not happening. When else would I get to mooch off the great Fierce Wind Warrior?”

“Honestly, you are the worst!”

Clink.

This time, we lightly clinked our cups and drank together.

“Where on earth did you cultivate such insight?”

“Through diligent preparation and review centered around textbooks.”

“…You’re not telling me, aren’t you? I’m sure there must be a teacher we don’t know about.”

I merely smiled in response.

“Damn it! Alright, alright. I won’t pry anymore.”

“This is clearly the first time I’ve had a proper conversation with Elder Tang, but I keep thinking we might become friends in the future.”

“If that really happens, I’ll be ruined!”

“Then come work under me. Shouldn’t I at least spare a spot for a drinking buddy?”

“Oh my! To think the great Fierce Wind Warrior would be treated like this. Goodness.”

If we start talking about my Master, it would be endless.

Even if we stayed up for three days and nights, there would be much to say.

His appearance, way of speaking, warmth, laughter, and even habits.

To me, a worthless person who could have been trampled at any time like any weed in a back alley where only shadows lay thick, he was an existence too dazzling and brilliant.

Everything I wanted to learn and emulate was all in him.

“But I think I can tell one thing for certain.”

“What’s that?”

“About the Master who taught you, Young Master.”

Oh? Now he’s not just probing, but claiming certainty?

I quietly watched, curious about what he would say.

“He must have been a truly wonderful person.”

For a moment, I found myself breathless.

“…How can you tell?”

“Because you are able to smile like that.”

“……”

Countless emotions whirled in my mind.

Even as Tang Gon kept chuckling and downing his drink, I absentmindedly munched the food while mulling his words over and over again.